Rainwater harvesting: A timely investment for Sri Lanka

In the concluding part of your editorial on June 13, 2026, you rightly pointed out that the US-Israeli conflict involving Iran and any closure of the Strait of Hormuz could leave Sri Lanka highly vulnerable. You also stressed the need for the government to invest more in renewable energy to reduce our dependence on external powers and global oil shocks.

Iran-US MoU: Peace or pause?

The long-awaited deal between Iran and the United States is now a reality. Yet the path ahead is paved with uncertainty and geopolitical mines that could shatter the memorandum of understanding or the framework for further talks.

“Finger on Trigger:” US-Iran peace deal is Fragile

Iran’s Speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that Iran’s “finger is on the trigger,” adding that if diplomacy fails, Tehran would again respond “with the language of power.” “If it doesn’t get done in 60 days, it’s all right,” Trump said at the G7 summit. “We go back to bombing.” That reflects the central tension of the agreement: it is both a peace framework and a warning of renewed war. The United States and Iran have si

Development – not at the cost of people or the environment

Easter Sunday attacks through political party prisms

History is full of bizarre twists where events take surreal turns. Those who appeared to be the saviours of the Easter Sunday terrorist attack victims – victims of one of the most heinous crimes in Sri Lankan history committed seven years ago, now stand accused of the same crime.

Banning social media for children

The UK Prime Minister’s proposal to ban social media for children under 16 is not just a “good idea” – it is an urgent intervention. Our Parliament too, must act immediately.

Trump’s new forced-labor tariffs strike Sri Lanka’s fragile export recovery

The global trade environment has entered a period of major uncertainty as the United States under President Donald Trump continues to reshape its tariff policies and economic relationships with trading partners. Among the countries facing increased attention is Sri Lanka, a developing economy that depends heavily on exports, particularly the apparel industry.

The US-Iran MoU and the fly in the ointment

It appears the US-Israeli war against Iran is finally coming to a close. But we need be aware there’s many a slip tween cup and the lip. Since US President Trump went to war with Iran on February 28 this year, he has told the world at least 39 times the US was on the brink of ‘declaring peace’ –only to change his mind within a day or two. However, this time around, it appears an agreement has finally been reached and details of a draft memorandu

Banks are facing serious challenges

It appears that our banking system is facing a serious challenge in the area of cash management, with critical internal controls seemingly having broken down. A series of major financial irregularities has raised concerns about the robustness of governance.

More questions than answers in Suresh Sallay’s detention

The idea that nine Islamist suicide bombers had blown themselves up, after pledging allegiance to the Islamic State, to bring to power a Sinhala nationalist as the head of the state is a plot worthy of Orwellian Doublethink.

Easter Sunday Debacle: Not by Default, But by Design - The Damning 3-P Nexus

Seven years after the horrific Easter Sunday attacks of 21 April 2019, which slaughtered over 270 innocent people and maimed hundreds more, Sri Lanka continues to be haunted by a tragedy that was as much a failure of governance as it was an act of terror. This was no mere “debacle” born of incompetence.

Rights in Custody: A Comparative Look at 1962 Coup Accused and Sallay

A renewed debate over custodial treatment and due process has emerged in Sri Lanka following the detention of former State Intelligence Service (SIS) Director Major General (Retd) Suresh Sallay under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). Allegations raised by his family regarding his physical condition and treatment in custody, alongside the government’s position that the detention is lawful, have prompted an inquiry by the Human Rights Commissi

Justice, or pleasing the crowd?

When the Supreme Court found politicians (the three Rajapaksa brothers) and senior officials including two former Governors of the Central Bank responsible for the damage caused the 2021-2022 economic crisis, many were unhappy. They wanted the persons found culpable jailed, fined, and otherwise punished.

Monsoon Lessons: What the rains teach Sri Lanka about resilience

Sri Lanka’s monsoon rains have brought floods, landslides, and rising dengue risk across the island. While transport and crops face disruption, the downpours also refill reservoirs, revive farmlands, and cool the air. The season, though harsh, reminds Sri Lankans of endurance — and the balance between nature’s challenge and its gift.

Facing the El Nino phenomenon and proclivities of the West

The Meteorology Department has warned that, while our country is currently experiencing the Southwest Monsoon season, the effects of a weather pattern known as El Niño are expected to become more pronounced in the coming weeks. It added that the developing El Niño will affect Sri Lanka through mid-2026 and beyond.

Dubai: The golden boy of make believe is in crisis

For twenty five years, Dubai was a never-never land for the upwardly mobile from all over the world-from business tycoons to engineers, tech professionals and speculators who wanted the best that money can buy, a futuristic steel-glass-concrete haven where they were immune to the world’s troubles.

The Silent Crisis of Elderly Safety in Sri Lanka

I am a regular reader of your English newspaper for the last 25 years. I find there are very important and timely news articles in the Daily mirror paper. One happens to be the above mentioned article which appeared in today’s Daily Mirror.

Sri Lanka’s joining the RCEP - opportunities and challenges

Media reports say that Sri Lanka is set to join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the world’s largest trading bloc, accounting for 30% of global GDP. The 15-member RCEP includes the ASEAN countries plus Australia, New Zealand, China, Japan and South Korea. Sri Lanka had sent its letter of intent to join the RCEP in 2023.

Easter attack: Who is telling the truth?

The Easter Sunday terror attacks of 2019 remain one of the most devastating tragedies in Sri Lanka’s recent history. It claimed the lives not only of Sri Lankans, but also of foreign nationals. Therefore, countries such as the United States also have a responsibility to determine the real culprits. The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) conducted an investigation and identified Zahran Hashim as the mastermind. The FBI reports, along with in

Whither peace efforts as Iran war escalates?

Although US President Donald Trump insists he is in control of the war, this week’s escalation — sparking fears of a resumption of the war— demonstrates that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has his say and way. Trump may be pressing for a deal to end the conflict, and Iran may be prepared to make concessions for peace, but Netanyahu knows how to scuttle it. If the war’s trajectory favours Israel, it not only secures Netanyahu’s politica

Is the country ready for extreme weather effects?

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake chaired a high-level discussion on the possible impact of the forthcoming El Niño condition and institutional plans to mitigate its effects.

Fading standards and the deteriorating quality of goods and services

Nearly a week after the Horana elders’ home tragedy that killed 12 elderly persons following a fire, three more individuals succumbed to burn injuries following a fire that occurred at a restaurant in Thalawathugoda. One glaring similarity between the two incidents is the fact that there had been no emergency exits in both establishments. As a result, several individuals were trapped inside without any chances to escape.

Torture is illegal, but a norm in every country

Several political parties have been agitating against the arrest and detention of former State Intelligence Service (SIS) chief retired Major General Suresh Sallay over the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks in 2019.

Private Sector Must Follow the Government’s Lead on Single-Use Plastic Bottles

President A K Dissanayake’s decision to ban single-use plastic water bottles, usually made from Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), effective from June 1, 2026 in the state sector is a welcome step towards reducing plastic pollution and protecting Sri Lanka’s environment. However, limiting the ban to government institutions alone will have only a modest impact.

Can the Sri Lankan public sector be revived?

The question of whether the Sri Lankan public sector can be revived is one that has attracted significant attention in recent years.

Senior citizens must have a decent life and a peaceful passing

The death of 13 inmates of an elders’ home in Anguruwathota, Horana, in a fire on June 3 does not seem to have emotionally touched the people of the country much. No politicians from the ruling party or the Opposition have shown interest in expressing views on the welfare of the senior citizens of the country after the incident.

Twilight in the Shadows: The Silent Crisis of Elderly Safety in Sri Lanka

Whenever a child is born into a Sri Lankan family, everything changes. Parents, grandparents, relatives and neighbours gather around. Money is found, time is given, and every possible effort is made to protect that newborn life. We worry about the child’s food, health, education and future. We build a circle of protection around the beginning of life.

Do heart patients get genuine free health care?

As far as heart patients are concerned, it is difficult to claim that Sri Lanka provides a truly free healthcare service. In Colombo, there is a lengthy waiting list for angiograms, with some patients having to wait more than ten months for this essential diagnostic procedure. During such a prolonged delay, a patient’s condition may worsen significantly, and in some cases, the consequences could be fatal.

The US-Israel war on Iran:Crimes against Humanity and roots of the Middle East conflict

The Middle East has today turned into a global tinder box. It could explode at any time, engulfing not only countries of the region, but also dragging the whole world into a nuclear inferno. Israel, carved out of what was once undivided Palestine, is central to the crisis.

Equality Before the Law: A Call for Unity, Not Division

In recent days, a petition was submitted to the United Nations office in Colombo urging the immediate repeal of Muslim personal laws, citing contradictions with international agreements and Sri Lanka’s Constitution.